Seeking to inspire a deep love of the arts in Shanghai's international school students, a new performing arts program has been formed between renowned music, dance and drama conservatory The Juilliard School and The British International School Shanghai, Pudong (BISS Pudong).

Founded in 1905 in New York, Juilliard is widely regarded as one of the world's leading music academies and is known for raising global awareness and respect for the arts.

"The Juilliard School's mission is to provide the highest caliber of artistic education for gifted musicians, dancers, and actors from around the world, so that they may achieve their fullest potential as artists, leaders, and global citizens," said Tricia Ross, managing director of Site-based Program Development at Juilliard Global Ventures.

Nord Anglia Education is one of the world's leading operators of international schools. In its global family there are 35 schools, including BISS Pudong, with over 23,600 students from kindergarten through to the end of secondary education (K-12).

In an introductory video on the collaboration between the two institutions, Andrew Fitzmaurice, CEO of Nord Anglia Education, said that performing arts is the creative key to unlocking students' imagination within all of the subjects that they learn while at school. The main purpose of the program, he says, is to inspire creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and communication in every student.

"Juilliard will create a curriculum for students and train the teachers of Nord Anglia so that every student will have opportunity to receive the highest quality artistic education," said Leah Schwartz, Juilliard's director of Business Development.

"Being able to receive the highest level of arts education at Juilliard is really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Stephanie Song, a Chinese-American violinist and Juilliard alumni, at the launch of the new program at BISS Pudong. "I really appreciate that Juilliard has helped me achieve so much."

Joung Jin-kim, a 10-year-old student from Korea at BISS Pudong, played a piece by Chopin during the launch. He told the Global Times that he feels honored to have the opportunity to participate in this unique program. "I'm looking forward to learning new things. I'm so excited about it," he said.

Ten Nord Anglia schools around the world, including BISS Pudong and BISS Puxi, will launch the Juilliard-Nord Anglia Performing Arts Program in September.

"This will be a fantastic opportunity for our students to learn artistic values, traditions and the expertise of The Juilliard School," said Lesley-Ann Wallace, principal of BISS Pudong.

Global Times

Teachers and students at BISS Pudong give a performance on April 13.

 

Joung Jin-kim from BISS Pudong

 

Lesley-Ann Wallace, principal of BISS Pudong 

 

Juilliard alumni Stephanie Song

Photos: Courtesy of BISS Pudong